**Chapter 120: The Ancestor's Test**
Qin Mu was puzzled: "The Ancestor didn't consider this path?"
The young Ancestor was silent for a moment, then sighed: "I did. Keep your head on your shoulders for now. Continue."
Qin Mu pressed on: "I've observed the State Preceptor of Yankang's actions, and some of them align with our Holy Cult's teachings—the Way of the Sages, practiced for the benefit of the common people. If our Holy Cult attaches itself to the State of Yankang, rather than declining like other sects, we may actually grow and flourish. That is the first reason."
He paused briefly, then continued: "The State Preceptor's system of primary schools, secondary schools, and the Imperial Academy has a flaw—a significant one. This flaw will not show itself in the short term, but within two or three hundred years, the consequences will be clear."
The Ancestor's curiosity was visibly piqued: "What flaw?"
Qin Mu asked: "May I ask the Ancestor—what percentage of scholars in the Imperial Academy come from poor families?"
The Ancestor smiled, clearly knowing what was coming: "One in ten."
Qin Mu continued: "And in recent years, what percentage of young officials in the State of Yankang graduated from the Imperial Academy?"
The Ancestor replied: "Seventy-two percent come from the Academy. The remaining older officials hail from the great sects, and some rose through the ranks step by step."
"By my estimation, two hundred years from now, every official in the realm will come from the Imperial Academy—and among Academy scholars, common-born students will number less than one in a hundred."
Qin Mu noticed his float bobbing but did not hurry to reel it in. He waited a moment: "Two hundred years from now, the poor will remain poor all their lives, while the wealthy will remain wealthy all their lives. Popular resentment will accumulate until it inevitably erupts. Noble families will seize the moment to revolt and overthrow the court. That will be the time for our Holy Cult to unite the world. The momentum of the great tide will be unstoppable and unchallengeable."
He lifted his rod. A large fish was hooked, but the creature's strength was tremendous—the line snapped with a sharp crack, and the fish vanished beneath the surface.
The Ancestor laughed coldly: "You would orchestrate a rebellion, dragging our Holy Cult into dishonor? I will cut off your head!"
Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said: "Ancestor, stop it."
The Ancestor chuckled despite himself. A fish had taken his bait as well—a small one, which he landed with a single pull. "Fine. Let us speak seriously. Two hundred years from now, you would have the Holy Cult become another State of Yankang. And then what? A great war sweeps through, destroying the old noble houses, and two hundred years later new noble houses form in their place. Someone will come to overthrow our Holy Cult's rule. How do you solve that?"
Qin Mu was taken aback. He shook his head: "I hadn't considered what comes after two hundred years. I ask the Ancestor to instruct me."
The Ancestor broke off a willow branch, threaded the small fish through it, and rose to his feet: "Neither can I see what lies two hundred years ahead. Junior Cult Master, at your age to see two hundred years already makes you a qualified Cult Master. You have passed the test. My own thinking differs from yours. What I contemplate is the doctrine of our Holy Cult."
Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly as he looked at this young-looking old man.
The Ancestor spoke with a distant, reflective tone: "The Way of the Sages differs not from the daily lives of the common people. Whatever diverges from that is heresy! To follow one's nature and act in accordance with the natural—that is the Way. When the State Preceptor of Yankang first rose to prominence, I sensed his grand ambitions. He came to me seeking guidance, and I told him this line from the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra. What he is doing now—that is this very principle."
Qin Mu's mind shook with revelation. He bowed deeply: "The Ancestor's sagacity is already that of a sage. You intend to subtly transform the State of Yankang into the Holy Cult. If the State of Yankang achieves the Way of the Sages, then the State of Yankang itself becomes the Heavenly Holy Cult!"
The Ancestor shook his head: "Neither the State of Yankang nor its State Preceptor can achieve the Way of the Sages. Neither can I. As you said—power and resources will be controlled by noble families within two hundred years. The rich grow richer, the poor grow poorer. That is not the Way of our Heavenly Holy Cult. I had hoped to influence the State Preceptor and through him influence the State of Yankang. But it appears I have failed. I am old now. This burden I pass to you. All I can do is hold the fort for a few more years."
He carried the fish, slung the fishing rod over his shoulder. Qin Mu followed behind him. The old man found a small hollow in the mountainside and, upon what was considered the most sacred ground in the hearts of every citizen of Yankang, set up a pot, added water, lit a fire, and began to scale and gut the fish before tossing it in.
The Ancestor watched the water, then produced some seasonings from his sleeve and sprinkled them into the pot: "In a few more months, I will resign from the position of Grand Preceptor. I am old. In these final years, I wish to wander. There are many places in this world I have never visited. The Holy Cult is yours now. After I resign, I will preside over an enthronement ceremony. I want to see with my own eyes that you become the Holy Cult's master."
Qin Mu felt somewhat troubled: "I am still at the Five Stars Realm. If I take charge of the Holy Cult now, would it be too soon? How can I command respect?"
The Ancestor gestured for him to sit. Qin Mu sat cross-legged before the pot, just as the old man did, savoring the aroma of the fish broth.
The Ancestor said: "The Holy Cult is actually quite loose in structure. The three hundred and sixty hall masters are scattered across the land. Our followers span the entirety of Yankang. Even the Elders and Heavenly Kings rarely gather together. You can freely serve as a hands-off Cult Master. And even if things go poorly—I'm still alive, aren't I? While I live, no one dares touch you. Not even the State Preceptor of Yankang."
Qin Mu's interest was caught. He ventured: "The State Preceptor of Yankang would want to control our Holy Cult, wouldn't he?"
"Of course he would. But you can put his mind at ease."
The Ancestor sampled the broth, decided it wasn't ready, and added more fire: "You must understand—because of your youth and low cultivation, you are not yet a concern in his eyes. He will believe he can control you. If he achieves the Way of the Sages and can guide you and the Holy Cult along that path, let him. If he cannot—then you will take his place."
He spoke as though discussing something trivial—yet this matter concerned nothing less than the overthrow of a dynasty.
Qin Mu tasted the broth and found the flavor exquisite, refreshing and savory. He couldn't help but exclaim his praise.
Suddenly, he remembered something and asked quickly: "Ancestor, is the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra missing its core technique? I have been studying and contemplating it these past days, but I have not found within it a technique capable of unifying all methods."
The Ancestor reached into the air and made a grabbing motion. From seemingly nowhere, two bowls and a ladle appeared in his hand. Qin Mu took them and began ladling the broth.
The technique the Ancestor had just used was recorded in the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra—the Five Ghost Transport Arts, capable of surreptitiously moving objects from afar without anyone noticing.
"The Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra's unifying technique is passed only to the Cult Master, handed down from Holy Cult Master to Holy Cult Master across the generations."
The Ancestor sipped the broth and let out a contented sigh: "Everything else within the Sutra can be taught openly. Only the unifying technique may be cultivated by the Cult Master alone. When you ascend to the throne as Holy Cult Master, Li Tianxing will transmit it to you."
Qin Mu was taken aback. Hadn't the previous Cult Master, Li Tianxing, already died? The Ancestor's tone suggested otherwise.
He drank the broth, finding it ever more refreshing with each sip, and asked: "Ancestor, what kind of fish is this?"
The Ancestor replied: "The qi of nine dragons converges here, forming this lake. This fish absorbed the dragon qi, which is why it is called the Nine-Dragon Crucian. It has hard bones and very little flesh—it's only good for making broth. But the broth is exceptional."
Qin Mu was thoughtful: "The Ancestor's meaning is that I should be a Nine-Dragon Crucian with hard bones?"
The Ancestor glared at him: "You think too highly of yourself. There's nothing wrong with being a human—why would you want to be a fish? Do you want someone to make soup out of you? I was simply hungry and brought you here to drink fish soup."
Qin Mu flushed with embarrassment. It seemed the old man really had just been craving fish soup.
The two sat there, leisurely drinking broth, savoring every mouthful.
Qin Mu took a fish bone and drew a diagram in the dirt—the circulation pattern for the Sixfold Realm stage of the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art: "Ancestor, I saw this cultivation diagram in Azure Sun Hall, but the preceding portion was missing. Has the Ancestor ever seen the first part?"
The Ancestor studied the drawing and asked with surprise: "Why do you want this cultivation diagram? Do you recognize this technique?"
Qin Mu nodded: "This is the Sixfold Realm circulation diagram of the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art."
The Ancestor's expression turned peculiar: "Even I did not know this was called the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art. Who told you?"
"The Village Chief."
The Ancestor was momentarily stunned, then spoke with deep emotion: "That old man has outwitted me after all. I couldn't recognize this technique, couldn't even name it, but he knew. Impressive indeed. So this technique is called the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art. That old man truly has vast knowledge. I found this diagram in ancient ruins. Besides this one, there were several damaged fragments. I saw that the circulation patterns held extraordinary mysteries—nothing ordinary—so I committed the diagram to memory and carved it into Azure Sun Hall. All the techniques in Azure Sun Hall are incomplete fragments, and this diagram is the most remarkable among them."
He paused: "This is the technique you cultivate?"
Qin Mu nodded: "I have cultivated the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art since childhood."
The Ancestor hesitated briefly: "In principle, you should cultivate our Holy Cult's unifying technique. But that old man in your village had you train in this Supreme Body Three-Dan Art—there must be a reason. His knowledge is profound, and the fact that he did not teach you his own technique suggests the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art is superior even to his. Good techniques share common ground. You might consider cultivating both—perhaps it would aid your progress."
Qin Mu agreed: "I have not been able to find the first part of the Supreme Body Three-Dan Art. Without the Five Stars Realm technique, I cannot continue my cultivation."